Reference quality line stage?


I'm planning the purchase of the last line stage I'll ever need (as distinct from the last one I'll ever buy...). It's going to be used for two-channel stereo only. It will sit between my Audio Note 4.1x Balanced Signature and a pair of Wavelength Triton Blue monoblocks driving Coincident Total Victory speakers. My opportunities for auditioning units in the price range I'm looking at are severely limited, which is why I'm asking for thoughts here.

My musical tastes run the gamut: orchestral, chamber, jazz, rock, folk, blues, even some alt country. My audio tastes are decidedly single ended triode: I like music that's palpable, fleshy, detailed, open, dynamic, extended and just plain real.

I'm looking for a line stage that's going to give me everything with as little fuss and attention as possible. My mechanical requirements are simple. My minimum configuration would be: single ended, three inputs, one output. I need about 10db of gain. Remote volume control would be nice but not essential. Anything beyond that (balanced operation, remote source selection, tape outputs, HT capability etc.) is OK if it doesn't compromise the fundamental quality of the unit.

The price range I'm looking at is $10K to $15K USD. I have no preference for new or used. The short list at the moment includes the Blowtorch, the VTL 7.5 and the Aesthetix Callisto Signature. I'm a bit hesitant about the Callisto, frankly, because of the number of tubes - it looks to me like there's too much potential for care and feeding problems down the road.

Any thoughts on my three candidates or suggestions for others I should consider are welcome.
128x128gliderguider
Tbg, how would you know? You have never had the bulk of preamps mentioned in this thread, including ours, in your system. Norm, your priorities are also different than the original poster as you have always thrived on leading edge at the expense of a proper stage including depth.....Your system will just about recreate a drum in your room whereas most of us prefer to be taken to the site of the recording.....
I used to own a First Sound Deluxe MKII and found that the timbre of the music to be so natural and the dynamics second were very extended.I found the tube amp to be very reliable and the build Quality first rate, also Emmanuel is a true gentleman and a real pleasure to do business with.If you like great dynamics and soundstaging then look at the Presence ( very few used ones out there). I am sure that there are a lot of great preamps at this price range so talk to some manufactures and see who is willig to work with your current system-Take care Dennis
Rcrump, you have always insisted that is my goal, not I. I have listened to the Blowtorch and have had many top preamps in my very resolving system, all I am really suggesting is that the original poster should listen to this unit. He will know what to do on hearing it. You should come up for a listening. I think even you would be impressed..
You already have a great Dac and transport. Why not get an Audio Note preamp to match. The Audio Note gear is designed to go together. The more you have the better it sounds including the cables.
Khaki8 - I thought about the Audio Note preamps. The M6 would be in the price range I'm looking at, but somehow it just doesn't do it for me. The Blowtorch is an all-out, balls-to-the-wall assault on SOTA, and that really resonates with me. Besides, I just like the idea of helping feed Bob Crump's audio jones...